Planned Giving

The desire to leave a lasting impact on the people and organizations that you care about may have you pondering your own legacy. A great way to accomplish this is to consider planned giving which will provide a future gift to the American Bear Association(ABA) through your financial and estate plans. The ABA strives to promote the well-being of the black bear through a better understanding, and your support will ensure this mission is carried out for generations to come.

The ABA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that welcomes gifts through various planned giving arrangements. You, along with your financial advisor, can choose the right planned gift based on your personal circumstances and financial goals. Below you will find some common planned giving options. If you need further details or have questions, feel free to reach out to our Director, Stephanie Horner, by phone: 218-757-0172 or email: bears@americanbear.org.

-Bequests:  One way to support the American Bear Association(ABA) is by including language in your will or living trust to leave a portion of your estate to the ABA through the transfer of  cash, securities, or other property. A bequest from your estate will help support the ABA for years to come and offers the following benefits to you:

-It does not cost anything to you now to set up

-You retain the control of and use of the assets in your lifetime

– You can modify your bequest if circumstances change

-Charitable Gifts from your estate are exempt from federal estate taxes

-Life Insurance Beneficiary:  By naming the American Bear Association(ABA) as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy you can provide a future donation to the ABA and provide a charitable deduction to your estate.  Feel free to contact us so we can provide you with our information to include for your beneficiary designation

-Individual Retirement Account (IRA):  IRA’s require the owner to begin taking Required Minimum Distributions (RMD’s) starting in the tax year that the IRA owner reaches age 70 1/2. These mandatory distributions are taxable to the IRA owner, but if these distributions are sent directly to the ABA from the IRA they may avoid taxation. Make sure to check with your IRA Custodian and Accountant to see if this would be a fit for your personal situation.

-Other Assets: If you have other assets such as individual stocks, property, vehicles, etc that you wish to donate please contact us at 218-757-0172 to discuss further.

The material presented on this website is not offered as legal or tax advice. Neither the author, nor the publisher, nor the American Bear Association is engaged in legal or tax advisory service. It is advised to discuss your specific situation with an attorney or tax professional when considering these types of gifts.